On behalf of the Government and the people of Australia, I extend my sincere condolences on the passing of former Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, H. E. Mr Zhu Rongji.
Mr Zhu oversaw milestone achievements in the development of China's modern market economy, including accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, which unlocked prosperity for so many Chinese people.
During his term as Premier and his career as a senior official, Australia and China saw an expansion of our strong and complementary economic partnership. Mr Zhu worked together with Australian counterparts, including during his visit to Australia in 1992, to help anchor economic growth within a more secure and stable region.
Our thoughts are with Mr Zhu's family and the people of China.
